Cutter-head quick release



June 17, 1930. w. D. JOHNSON CUTTER HEAD QUICK RELEASE lllllklllL n w w MN W I a Q WM H AN mm mm wv a MWWW: 9m NM WMWN Patented June 17, 1930 UN [TE-D STATES PATENT WALLACE J OHNSON," OFBELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO YATES-AMERICAN MA.-

GI-IINE COMPANY, OF'BELOIT, WISCONSIIil',-A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CUTTER-HEAD QUICK RELEASE Application filed March 21, 1927.

which the side heads of the machines are g; withdrawn from' working position.

The principalobject of the invention is to provide an improved release by means of which a side head may be quickly withdrawn.

Another important object is to provide, in connection with such a release, an improved adjuster by means of which the working position of the side head may be accurately set and preserved notwithstanding occasional withdrawalsof the same'from working position.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the. improved device.

One form of the invention is presented .herein for the purpose of exemplification,

but it will be appreciated of course that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other slightly different structural forms coming equally within the true and intended scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a wood-working machine, showing two of the quick release devices connected with two opposed side head units; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the machine frame and one of the quick release devices, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing in elevation the side head unit to which that particular devic is connected.

The drawing illustrates fragmentarily a wood-working machine which is provided with two side head units 10. Only one of the units may be observed in the drawing, however, for the reason that in Fig. 1 one of the units is totally obscured by the other.

The units are slidably mounted on spaced guide rails 11, and are movable along the rails into or out of working position by means of two devices 12 which are connected with the units. The two devices, except for Serial No. 177,026.

being reversed: in position, are substantially the same,.and.only that device which is connected with the unit shown in the drawing need therefore be described.

The frame 13 of the unit is provided with alug 14, andone portion of a-rod: 15 isin screw-threaded engagement with the lug; Another portion of the rod 15- is' rotatably mounted within a tubular rack 16, andlisheld against endwise movement-g therein byafixedcollar 17 onthe rod atone endof the rack anda-removable collar 18 on the-rod in the form of two interlocked nuts at the other end of the rack.

Therack 16 is slidably positioned: within:

an aperture 19 in the frame20-ofthe ma chine, and a pinion 21 is-rotatablyv mounted in the frame in mesh with the rack; long hand-lever 22 is secured to'an. axial-extension 23 ofthe pinion, and-isprovided with a set I screw 24Tforabutment with. the framey20. The lever-22 moves the pinion- 21,- andothe pinion in turn moves the rack-16.

When the side headunit is inrworkinggpo,

sition, the lever 22 extends downwardly,- as-;

shown in full lines in Fig.2,and whenthe unit iswithdrawn from working position, the lever extends outwardly, as I shownmin dotted .lines in Fig. 2.

A key 25 is rotatably:;mountedg in. the;

frame..20, .and isiprovided-with a semi-cylindrical; portion 26nvhichoccupies a1-key-' ways 27- in the-rack -16 when theqleveri 22 is inv workingyp osition. The purpose of the previously described set screw 24 is to bring thedever. 22 towstop imapositioniwhere the key-way 27 in the rack is ,in alignment with the key 25. NVhenthe'portion 26-,of;the;key is turned; into the. key-.wayrin the rack,- the rack is locked against ,endw-ise .moven ent. and, when the'portion 26 is turned outof the the rod is preferably of polygonal shape in order to make the turning of the same an 7 easy matter.

To adjust the working position 01: the side head unit, the lever 22 is swung clownwardly into working position, the handle 28 is turned to lock the rack against'endwise movement, and the rod 15 is turned 'sary to swing the lever 22 downwardly and to bringthe knives of the side head to the exact working position desired. To release the side head quickly for any reason without destroying adjustment in the working position of the same, it is merely necessary .to turn the handle 28 to unlock the rack and then swing the lever 22 outwardly, whereupon the side head will be withdrawn to the extent indicated in Fig. 2 by the dotted line position of the end 29 of the rod 15. To return the side head again to the same working position, it is merely necesturn the handle 28 to lock the rack.

The other side head unit may be adjusted and released in the same way. The device 12 associated with that unit differs from the one just described only in that the pinion 21 is located below instead of above the rack 16, in order that, when the lever 22 is swun outwardl into release osition the rack 16' with the rod 15' and the side head unit will be shifted toward the opposite side of the machine.

I claim:

1. In a wood-working machine, the combination with a cutter head unit movable relative to the machine, of a screw-threaded connection for adjusting the working posi- -tion of the unit, and a pinion and rack conthe unit quickly from any adjusted Working position and returning it accurately to the same.

ing the pinion, whereby to move the unit.

5. In a wood-working machine, the combination with a side head unit movable laterally of the machine, of a quick release comprising a rack connected with the unit, a pinion meshed withthe rack, a hand lever for turning the pinion whereby to move the unit, and means to lock the unit against movement. 7

6. In a wood-working machine, the combination with a side head unit movable laterally of the machine, of a quick release comprising a rod having a screw-threaded connection with the unit, a rack connected with the rod in such a way as to prevent endwise movement but permit rotary movement, a pinion meshed with the rack, means for turning the pinion whereby to move the rack, rod and unit, and means for turning the rod in the rack whereby to adjust the position of the unit relative to the rack.

7. In a wood-working machine, the com bination with a side head unit movable laterally of the machine, of a quick release into the groove whereby to lock the rack.

8. In a wood-working machine, the combination with a work-engaging unit movable relative to' the machine, of a screwthreaded connection for adjusting the working position ofthe unit, and'a pinion and ,rack connection for releasing the unit quickly from any adjusted working position and returning it accurately to the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WALLACE D. JOHNSON.

3. In a wood-working machine, the com- I,

bination with a cutter head unit movable relative to the machine, of a quick release comprising a rack connected with the unit, a pinion meshed with the rack, a hand lever for turning the pinion, whereby to move the unit,'and means for adjustably limiting the extent to which the hand lever may be swung in the working position of the unit.

4. In a wood-working machine, the combination with a side head unit movable laterally of the machine, of a quick release comprising a rack, an adjustable connection between the rack and the unit, a pinion meshed with the rack, and means for turnus I 

